Age

Published in Melbourne since 1854, was a liberal daily of world standard before 1900 and remains today one of Australia's leading newspapers. Founded by John and Henry Cooke, it was run as a co-operative venture, 1854-56; in 1856-57 and 1859-60 it was owned by Ebenezer and David Syme, in 1857-59 by Ebenezer, and in 1860-1908 it was under David's control. After his death the Age remained within the family until the Syme company became a public one in 1948. In 1983 control of the Age passed to the Fairfax (see John and J.G. Fairfax) chain, which had acquired a 50 per cent interest in the newspaper in 1970. After the Fairfax group went into receivership in 1990 the Age passed (1991) into the hands of Charles Black's Tourang consortium. A selection of early Age editorials and articles was published as The Australian Thunderer (1971); the newspaper's battles with the Argus at that time are referred to in Henry Kingsley's The Hillyars and the Burtons (1865), where the Age becomes the Mohawk. A.L. Windsor, a much-admired figure in Australian journalism, was editor 1871-1900, when Alfred Deakin and Charles Henry Pearson were prominent contributors; other editors have included G.H.F. Schuler (1901-26), L.V. Biggs (1926-39), Sir Harold Campbell (1939-59), E.K. Sinclair (1959-66), Graham Perkin (1966-75), Lyle Turnbull (1975-77), Greg Taylor (1978-80), Creighton Burns (1981-89), Michael Smith (1989-93) and Adam Kohler (1993- ). Other staff have included Charles Bright, J.E. Neild, Philip Mennell, Roy Bridges, Benjamin Hoare (leader writer 1890-1914), George Johnston and C.E. Sayers. The Age has given regular coverage to literature by way of book reviews and articles.

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